Despite how much we might seem to have reported on it this year, the Bonnyville RCMP’s latest report suggests that crime is down in the area compared to last year.
The report says 21.6 percent fewer crimes were reported to the detachment between January and November of 2016 compared to the same period of time last year. Most notably, thefts are down. Only five cases of theft over 5,000 dollars have been reported in 2016 compared to 26 between January and November of 2015. Theft under five grand appears to be on the decline as well, with 164 cases so far this year compared to 238 over the the same time last year. 45 vehicle thefts were reported in Bonnyville compared to 79 for 2015. After dealing with dealing with a few arson cases every year since at least 2012, not one incident has been mentioned in the report this year.
However, decreases are not across the board, and there have been increases in some very serious categories. 13 sexual assaults have been reported so far in 2016, compared to just five by this time in 2015. 2016 also saw Bonnyville’s first robbery in three years and fraud is up significantly. 113 cases of fraud were reported this year compared to 91 in 2015.
Also of note is that police have had to make fewer calls out for nothing. More than a hundred fewer false alarms have been reported in the area than last year and fake or abandoned 9-1-1 calls are down from 180 to 109.
Also worth noting is that fewer people were reported missing so far this year (17 to 25) and that cases of spousal abuse are up from 97 to 106.